Spellbound Fireflies (29 page)

Letting go of the couple, Celestia nodded once and lifted into the air on her large wings.  Above the park, a flash of pure sunlight lit up the sky and she was gone.

Rainbow and Twilight resettled in their seats, but didn’t pull the hooves they had around each other’s necks back.  Instead they pressed in close, grinning.

Applejack chuckled at the pair, ribbing Pinkie Pie.  “Y’all two are just the cutest things I ever did see.”  Rainbow rolled her eyes, but didn’t pull away from her wife.  “Now don’t be givin’ me that look none, RD.  I’ve never seen a pair a’ ponies so darn happy together.”  She dropped her voice, her tone a heartfelt and quiet note.  “I’m so happy for you two.  Today went off without a hitch an’ there wasn’t a dry eye in town.”

As Rainbow grinned at Applejack, nuzzling in close to her wife, Scootaloo looked obliquely at Sweetie Belle.  Her fillyfriend was listening to the conversation intently.  Scootaloo inched closer on her chair.

Pinkie Pie giggled and nodded.  “It was such a super success!  Nopony was a changeling or anything!  And Fluttershy’s birdies were so perfect at holding up the streamers and their song was so pretty, and the decorations were perfect, and everypony’s dresses looked awesometastic, and the food is super-duper delicious, and—”

As Pinkie rambled, Scootaloo scooted and nonchalantly slid her hoof around Sweetie’s back.  Sweetie started and glanced at the little pegasus.  Dots of pink colored her cheeks and she grinned, leaning into Scootaloo’s shoulder.

“—and everything was just exactly right!”  The table chuckled as Pinkie heaved in a gulp of air to replace her lost breath.

Fluttershy smiled at the party pony.  “Your decorations really were wonderful, Pinkie.”

“And this food really is yummy-riffic, AJ,” Pinkie enthused.

Grinning, Applejack turned to Rarity.  “An’ everypony looks mighty sharp in these duds, Rares.”

“And your birds were simply splendid, Fluttershy dear.”

“And we never would have gotten everything done without Spike helping on the planning.”

“And it’s a good thing Rainbow Dash had Cloud Kicker on sky duty.  The weather was perfect!”

As the group babbled on about the ceremony, complimenting the couple on their vows and discussing who they had seen getting teary-eyed, Rainbow extended her wing around Twilight’s shoulders.  Scootaloo spread hers across Sweetie Belle.

As the conversation lulled, a reminiscent smile lit up Fluttershy’s face.  “That’s funny.  Everypony had close to the same job as when we all met.  It’s like we set up the Summer Sun Celebration again.”

Rainbow chuckled low.  “It’s not funny if it’s on purpose.”  She grinned indulgently and kissed her wife’s brow.  “Twi’s all mushy like that.”

Scootaloo tried as nonchalantly as possible to kiss Sweetie Belle on the brow.  The filly giggled and poked Scootaloo in the ribs.  “You’re copying your mom, aren’t you?” she whispered.

Coughing in embarrassment, Scootaloo looked away quickly.  Her gaze settled on the gazebo, trailing forgotten streamers and surrounded by chairs, some upturned in the rush to the reception seating.  She followed the path back and from her vantage point caught sight of a familiar bench, one she had spent months sitting on and chugging water.  She glanced back at the gazebo and then at Rainbow Dash, nuzzling affectionately into Twilight.

“Hey, mom?”

Rainbow turned with Twilight’s face still in her neck.  “Yeah, Scoots?”

Glaring in scrutiny across the park, Scootaloo mumbled, “…That bench, where mom always sits when we train…”  She raised her eyebrow.  “Is it the same one from when you got together?  When it started raining and you ran under the gazebo?”

Twilight giggled, nuzzling up the side of Rainbow’s jaw and nodding at the filly.

Scootaloo sighed, her expression one of beleaguered amusement.  “You really are mushy, mom.”

Apple Bloom knit her brow in sudden confusion.  “Wait a minute...Scoots calls both y’all ‘mom’ and I seen her do it for months now, but y’all always know which one she’s talkin’ about.  How’re y’all doin’ that?”

The couple sat up straight and pursed their lips looking at each other.  The table grew quiet, everypony there contemplating the question with growing curiosity.  Rainbow raised an eyebrow.  “Is...isn’t it obvious which one she’s talking to?”

Twilight tapped her chin.  “I guess it is sort of odd.”

Shrugging, Scootaloo said, “I dunno.  Hey, mom.”  Rainbow turned to her.  “Wow, that is kinda spooky.”

A call sounded from a further table and interrupted them, a slowly growing chant of “Cake!  Cake!  Cake!” filling the air.  Twilight and Rainbow stood from the table and cantered to the buffet line, headed for the multi-tiered cake.  Twilight floated a knife to the colossal confection and sliced out two pieces.

They lifted a slice a piece in their hooves and brought them to their partner’s face.  Twilight bit into her slice delicately with a glint of mischief in her eyes.  As Rainbow leaned forward to bite, she smeared her wife’s muzzle with a long streak of crumbs and icing.

Rainbow laughed, bright and carefree, licking her lips.  She squished the remains of the slice she held across Twilight’s face.

In a flurry of magic, Twilight carved the cake up onto plates as the crowd chuckled.  A line formed as ponies stepped up to get a piece as Twilight carried back plates for the table.  As Scootaloo lifted a bite to her mouth, Sweetie Belle grinned wickedly and lit her horn, pulling the fork forward and dotting her fillyfriend’s snout with icing.

As they finished their cake, Princess Luna approached the table, warmly saying, “Good evening, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash.  It was a lovely wedding; it’s been a long time since I’ve seen my sister quite so happy.  I offer you my congratulations and well-wishes.”

Twilight grinned.  “Thank you, Luna.  We both appreciate you attending.”

Luna’s smile turned playful.  “Oh, I wouldn’t dare to miss it.  Even if it meant being awake at such an unpleasant hour.”  She shuddered theatrically.  “And don’t tell me the party is over just yet.  I dare say I saw some barrels underneath the catering tables.”  She turned her mischievious glance on Applejack.  “Have I correctly surmised that they contain Sweet Apple Acres’ famous hard cider?”

“That ya have, Princess.”  Applejack stood and stretched out her back, turning to Twilight.  “What’cha think, Twi’?  Time to crack open some barrels and get the party goin’?”

“Sounds good to me.”  Twilight turned to Rainbow.  “You going to drink?”

“In a little bit.”  She eyed their daughter.  “I promised Scoots some flying, and somethin’ tells me I should do that now instead of after a few.”

Twilight giggled and looked at Rainbow’s dress.  “You’re going to ruin that…”

Scoffing indulgently, Rarity said, “Of course she would, Twilight.  That’s why I designed her dress to do this.”  A light glow of magic lit up a zipper on Rainbow’s dress, hidden expertly within a seam.  It slid down Rainbow’s back and the pegasus stepped lightly out of the garment, shaking out her wings.  “Scootaloo’s dress as well.  Come here, dear, I’ll get that off for you.”

While Rarity helped Scootaloo out of her dress, Rainbow ran a hoof through her mane, mussing it back to its normal perfection.  “This alright?” she asked Twilight quietly.

“Of course, Rainbow.”  She leaned forward and nuzzled her wife’s cheek, dropping her voice to a sultry whisper.  “Tire her out plenty; this
is
our wedding night.”  A goofy grin spread over Rainbow’s face and she nodded in confirmation with a wink.  As soon as Scootaloo had ‘fixed’ her mane, Rainbow jumped into the air.

Rarity cantered over, asking, “Twilight, would you like out of your dress now, too?”

“No thanks, Rarity.”  Her grin widened.  “I think I’ll wear it as long as possible.”

Rarity batted her eyelashes, crooning, “Oh, how positively romantic!”  Sighing wistfully, she muttered, “And here
I
caught that bouquet…” as she wandered towards the keg Applejack had started tapping.

Twilight turned to follow the others when spiky bangs lowered into her vision.  Rainbow smiled at her upside down and pulled her into a kiss.  Twilight could taste the cake still smeared on her wife’s muzzle and felt Rainbow’s chin against her snout.  Kissing Rainbow while inverted was one of the oddest sensations she had experienced; everything seemed to be off about it.  Rainbow’s tongue wasn’t quite in the right place, her lips didn’t match up with what she expected, and when she automatically raised a hoof to stroke the mare’s neck, she batted at a fuzzy ear instead.

It was absolutely delightful.

Rainbow pulled back and murmured, “This is the best day of my life.  Thank you,
Mrs.
Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight grinned affectionately and stroked Rainbow’s mane.  “This is the best day of my life, too,
Mrs.
Rainbow Dash.”  She pecked her wife on the lips.  “Now go fly.  Have fun.”

Rainbow licked Twilight’s snout and darted away, catching up with Scootaloo in the air above the gazebo.  Twilight’s eyes followed Sweetie Belle as she ran after the pair, back towards the seating for the ceremony to sit and watch them fly.  Her gaze drifted up and she watched them, too.

Scootaloo was amazing in the air.

She had been amazing on her first flight, and as she trained with Rainbow Dash she grew more sure of herself, faster, and more precise week after week.  Eventually when the two of them flew together they looked less like a student with a teacher and more like a team.  Watching them again, rocket around in circles, blending their flight trails to fiery rainbows in swirls and knots, Twilight felt the same awe as the first time she saw Rainbow clear the sky.  Slowly, she sunk to her haunches, caught up in the show.

Applejack held a mug under her snout.  She blinked and grasped it in her magic.  “Thanks, Applejack.”

“Not a problem, Twilight.”  Applejack sat down next to the mare.  “It really was a beautiful weddin’.  I’m glad y’all asked me to be a part of it.”

Twilight took a sip, letting the bite of alcohol tingle her snout.  “Thanks for being a part of it, Applejack.  It wouldn’t have been the same without you all there.”

Applejack nodded resolutely, taking a swig of her own mug.  They sat in silence for a while, watching mother and daughter loop and spin through the air.  “It’s been a crazy couple’a years, Twi’.  Ever since ya moved here, I’ve watched this whole town change, an’ I can’t help but think it’s all been you.  Ponies ‘round these parts are happier’n I’ve ever seen ‘em.  An’ don’t get me started on us six.”  She smiled obliquely at Twilight.  “I’ll tell ya, I ain’t never seen a pony change so much as RD.  Once upon a time I didn’t think that mare could ever make a real friend.”

Twilight frowned thoughtfully.  “Really?”

“Eeyup.  First time I met her was a couple’a weeks after she moved here an’ I caught her catchin’ forty winks in one of my trees.  She seemed nice enough, but she was always…”  Applejack took another swig, her brow furrowing.  “...She was cold, Twi’.  Real cold.  Friendly and polite enough when she weren’t showin’ off, but there was hardness there, just under her skin.  Know what I mean?  Always an acquaintance, never a friend, that sorta pony.”

Twilight nodded slowly.  “Rainbow’s said as much, talking about her past.”

“Y’all changed all that, though.  Within days she was different.  Warmer.  You really brought out somethin’ special in her, Twi’.”  Applejack smiled brighter.  “In all of us, really.  Whole dang town.”

Twilight chuckled low.  “I’m just a pony, Applejack.”

“Not to that one, you ain’t,” Applejack murmured, nodding at Rainbow as she danced through the dark sky with Scootaloo.  “Not to any of us, neither.”  She hugged Twilight around the neck with one leg.  “I seen you change just as much, though, Sugarcube.  Y’all used to be so wrapped up in your books, even after ya came here.  Can’t imagine what’cha must’ve been like back in Canterlot.  Rainbow’s changed you as much as you’ve changed her.  It’s like ya were made for each other.”

A comfortable lull fell over the two, the only sound the murmurs and cheers from the party behind them and the distant laughter of the two pegasi in flight.  After a while, Twilight mumbled, “It feels like that for me, too.”

“Ya certainly showed it.  Havin’ this all here.  I tell ya,
I’m
reminded of that Runnin’ of the Leaves, and it’s not half as special to me.  I bet’cha Rainbow appreciates the heck out of it, even if she thinks it’s mushy.”

Twilight grinned conspiratorially.  “Applejack, Pinkie Promise this stays quiet?”

“Eh?”  Applejack raised an eyebrow and then shrugged, miming through the promise.  “Now what’d I promise about?”

Twilight dropped her voice to just above a whisper.  “Having it here was Rainbow’s idea.  I’m taking the fall for it, though.”

Applejack snorted and shook her head.  “Well don’t that beat all.”  She took a long draught, watching Rainbow fly.  “She’s so different now,” she marveled.  “I still can’t rightly believe she gave up joinin’ them Wonderbolts.  Even back before I knew her at all, she’d never stop yammerin’ on about ‘em.”  Her gaze shifted to the filly soaring alongside Rainbow.  “How’d Scootaloo take that, anyway?”

“Hmm?”  Twilight finished her sip, frowning up at the pair.  “She was...well, she was surprised.  She blamed herself, too; thought it was her fault and she was keeping Rainbow from doing something.  She came around after a while...Rainbow told her that sometimes dreams change, and as important as something is to somepony when they’re younger, life happens around them.”  Twilight turned to Applejack, her smile thin.  “Rainbow said, ‘Why would I want to fly on a team when I could spend every day flying with the greatest filly in Equestria?’  Scootaloo calmed down after that.”

Applejack shook her head slowly.  “Lan’ sakes, how that mare’s changed...”  She turned her attention skywards and they sat in silence while they finished their mugs.  Applejack’s gaze drifted down and she began to watch Sweetie Belle watching the flying.  “…What’cha think’s gonna happen between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle?”

“Hm?”  Twilight glanced at the filly, caught up in the flying show.  “I don’t know.  They’re awfully young still.  Barely out of fillyhood, if you can even say that.”